My resume has never gotten me a job, but the people i know have. I use my resume to tell people that i don't suck and my friends to tell people that i'm awesome and definitely the best pick for the job.

I hope you are able to find something soon. Just keep it simple and relevant. Add some really nice references to it. I also had my mother-in-law proof read my resume. She helped a lot.

In lieu of an actual job history, you are able to substitute with job like qualities. Including but not limited to any volunteer work you may have done. You'll also want to add emphasis on the skills you do have. Homeschooling skills, for example, could easily be seen as the ability to train and manage people, even lead.

Being a 'stay at home mom' actually has a lot of transferable skills involved like time management, multi-tasking, conflict resolution, money management, motivational skills, training/teaching, logistics etc so there's no need to lie or downplay that role.

You could put your homeschooling on there, especially if you present the skills it required, etc, as if it were a "real" job. <-- I have no idea how to word that sentence without coming across as an ass, so I'll leave it :|

Never lie, always exaggerate. Also, checkout articles about resumes on sites like Business Insider that show heat maps regarding what people actually look at, etc. Honestly, formatting and phrasing is 75% of the battle.

I recommend Alison Green for expertise on resume writing. She runs a blog called askamanager and she really, really knows her shit. I read her every day.

Do not lie on your resume. And to everyone else, please don't think that this is ok to do. I have had to manage people who lied to get their jobs and ended up firing most of them because 1) they lacked the knowledge to perform the job that they would have had if they had been telling the truth and 2) I cannot trust someone who lies on their resume and don't want them working for me. Those who I didn't fire, quit themselves (good riddance).

Exaggeration is to be expected but to a point, claiming to have skills that you don't have is bad both for the employer and you. Don't set yourself up to be a disappointment after being hired. It will stick with you, trust me.

Good hiring managers do check references, by the way. It does happen. Often.

You could put your homeschooling on there, especially if you present the skills it required, etc, as if it were a "real" job. <-- I have no idea how to word that sentence without coming across as an ass, so I'll leave it :|

It's fine. Frizzle has very clearly worded everything you're getting at in small words I can understand at other points in time.

Tom Ford got his designing jobs by saying he went to Parsons, a school known for turning out amazing designers. The issue? Tom Ford went to Parsons for architecture. He just fudged it to his advantage.

You've taught a lot of people here, a lot of things. You've taught me and others tons of things regarding health, nutrition, cooking, and many other assorted things. I wouldn't lie but I would definitely fudge things to market yourself depending on what job you're trying to attain.

You shouldn't really need to do that though, you held a job for a good amount of time. You're educated. You have a good work ethic. Put your domestic engineers skills on the resume and explain it in your cover letter

I don't mean to brag or anything but I've gotten every job I've ever interviewed for and was extremely under qualified for all of them.

Don't lie on your damn resume. If you're under qualified try to turn that into a strength in the sense that you are more than willing and eager to be trained and learn how to do the job. Like no, I don't know what the fuck I'm doing, but I really want this position so I'm willing to put in the effort to be a great employee and learn.

And if you are qualified for the job, use the best references possible. References are a big deal (at least in office work?) so don't be shy about asking the big boss to be a reference for you.

As far as resume building goes - try to expand in details about what you were best at but try to touch on everything you are capable of doing. Presentation is important as well, I have a really awesome template that a mediator (lawyer) did up for me and I could send you that if needed!

Thank Jessus. Helpful topic for me too. Been doing some reading myself and definitely agree with what has already been stated. Many agreed with Waser in the sense that being a stay-at-home mom and home-schooling is very indicative of capacity as a good employee. I don't think the gap in paid work needs to be justified, you took 2 years off from paid employment to nurture your children. It really shouldn't be an issue for any employer. That said, my understanding is that employers like to look for well-roundedness. Probably good to weave a mix of mom with previous job before that in your resume.